Power, Control & Information Systems Engineer / Age 26
Procter & Gamble
Katelyn Desrochers was the first Northeast Wisconsin Technical College student to place in the top two at the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance’s Internship Draft Day. It was an honor awarded for Desrochers’ professional contributions as an engineer for multiple organizations across the U.S. and her passion for changing the engineering landscape through STEM outreach activities like Mind Trekkers and Engineering Ambassadors.
While 91% of manufacturers worry they can’t fill open skilled roles, women still make up less than 10% of the skilled trades workforce, Desrochers says. Talking about the barriers — including the prevalence of sexual harassment within STEM professions — can help address why fewer than 20% of women with STEM degrees remain in the industry after just 10 years, she adds.
Desrochers hopes to expand the small engineering mentorship program she started at Green Bay West High School to other schools and organizations. “I want to make sure that every young engineer in Wisconsin has a mentor they can lean on,” says Desrochers, who serves part-time on the faculty of NWTC.
